WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice traveled to Israel this week as a member of a bipartisan Congressional delegation led by U.S. Representative Mike McCaul (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. In Jerusalem, the delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, and other Israeli officials. In a meeting on Tuesday, the delegation spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu about Israeli counterterrorism efforts and the importance of the relationship between the United States and Israel.
"The support and the alliance with the United States is a foundation of our national security,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said during the meeting. “It’s a bipartisan position. It’s also bipartisan here. I think there’s complete unanimity about the importance of the relationship with the United States."
“Israel is our closest ally in the region, and every dollar we invest in Israel’s security is a direct investment in American homeland security,” said Rep. Rice. “No matter how partisan the atmosphere in Washington has been or may become, we have a responsibility to ensure that support for Israel always remains a bipartisan priority. We made it clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we take that responsibility very seriously and we’re eager to continue working with him to enhance the security of both our countries and protect the people we serve.”
Middle East and EU Congressional Delegation:
The delegation is traveling to countries in the Middle East and Europe to examine evolving security threats to the U.S. homeland, including the flow of foreign fighters from Western countries to Syria and Iraq and recent terrorist plots and attacks against the United States and European allies. The critical focus will be the U.S. government's efforts, working with our allies, to identify known or suspected terrorists and foreign fighters who pose a threat to the homeland and to prevent them from traveling to the United States. The delegation will assess European counterterrorism programs, best practices to counter violent extremism, and the U.S.-Coalition strategy to eliminate the terrorist sanctuary in Syria and Iraq. The delegation will also focus on the Israeli perspective, including border security and threats emanating throughout the region near its borders.
In addition to Rep. Rice and Chairman McCaul, the delegation includes Reps. Pete Sessions (R-TX), Vern Buchannan (R-FL), Bill Keating (D-MA), John Katko (R-NY), Will Hurd (R-TX), and Barry Loudermilk (R-GA).
###
